While researching information for my blog post, I came across a program created by The North Face called “Hot Planet / Cool Athletes”. They also paired up with sponsors Cliff Bar and MEC to educate middle and high schools about the truth of climate change. They use the influence of pro athletes to energize the youth about the future of our planet if we continue at the same rate we are at. These athletes, many of whom are professional snowboarders and skiers, provide a different perspective of the reality of climate change that they have experienced first hand.
I think this is a great idea to connect with the youth. For many students hearing from a teacher about the effect the human race is having on the world is often not enough to influence and fully educate them. This program brings in professionals who have first hand experience with the changing of snow levels in mountains all across the world in just the last decade. The Hot Planet Cool Athletes program has reached over 27,000 students since it was founded in 2011 by speaking and inspiring the youth in classes and assemblies.
I think that the education of climate change needs to go farther than the classroom. The youth of today is the generation that really needs to step up and change the way that humans live and pollute. With an increasing focus on climate change in schools, the information may become repetitive or still not have a personal impact with students, especially those who live in an urban environment. Field trips should be mandatory that physically display the effects that humans have on the environment. Once the evidence is displayed to students first hand, then maybe the next generation will be motivated and eager to change the world.
I find this particularly interesting because athletes have a lot of influence of people and the idea of using their role model status to help influence the awareness of global warming to our youth is great! I agree with how global warming should not just be a class lesson of the week, but instead a higher priority!
I didn’t even know this type of program existed! That’s an interesting take on climate change and it seems as though the issue of climate change is being pushed onto a young audience. Do you think that this issue can be effective in the top sports leagues in America (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL)?
I think that this is an interesting topic. I believe that climate change should be brought into the lime light with celebrities talking about it the way they do other major problems with this world. The world deserves to live longer and we need to do what ever it takes to make that a reality.
What a great program — thanks for posting about it and bringing it to our attention. I agree with you that education about climate change needs to go “beyond the classroom.” I wish I could have incorporated field trips into our course, and maybe I will when I teach it again. There are opportunities for this kind of beyond-the-classroom education here at the UO — for instance, especially for those of you who are Journalism majors — there are professors and students working on this great project in the J school. It involves going on “field trips” in the Pacific Northwest to do research about climate change in local communities: http://uoclimatereport.tumblr.com/
Also, per Dyuce’s question, I don’t know if professional athletic organizations are involved in climate change advocacy or education programs (I tend to doubt it), but I do know that climate change is at least on the radar of one professional organization, the NHL: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/227556-nhl-just-upped-its-fight-against-climate-change
I think that this is a very interesting and unique topic. I think that it is great to use professional athletes to help convey this message to young kids. As you said, these kids might not listen to their teachers who just seeming preach this material at the kids. However, if their iconic role model comes in and tells them personal stories about climate change affecting them, it could have an impact on these kids and could motivate them to make a change. This is a brilliant idea, and it more and more athletes and role models come out and start doing it, it would really make a change.
I really like this program because it’s a great modern way to connect with the younger generation of today. Being someone who has been skiing for most of my life this would be something that I could get behind to make people aware of climate change. If it got to that point where I wouldn’t be able to ski anymore due to the changing weather I would be devastated so I think coming from professional athletes gives it all the more meaning to how serious the cause is.
I think that by using someone like an athlete or celebrity will really help get the message of global warming across. Especially since so many people look up to and follow these iconic people. Plus globally warming is most likely going to affect the younger generations more so I think it is smart to try to get this message across to this younger audience. Hopefully more people will come across this project and do something about climate change.